engleski

Prolonged immobilization of bears using alpha-chloralose

The need to immobilize bears (Ursidae) in the duration of over 3 and up to 24 hours may occur in the cases of transport of wild specimens, field surgeries, or other special situations. Our goal was to prolong the immobilization of snare captured and intra-muscularly (with ketamine and xylazine hydrochloride) tranquilized bears. We administered the alpha-chloralose, in 0.4 l of water mixture warmed to the body temperature, by a tube into the large intestine (20 - 50 cm deep) of the previously immobilized bears. Seventeen tests with 12 captive bears were performed: 8 European brown (Ursus arctos arctos), 1 North American brown (U. a. middendorfi), 2 polar (U. maritimus) and 1 Asiatic black bear (U. thibetanus). The administered doses ranged 13 - 87 mg/kg body mass and resulted with immobilization from 1 to 21 hours, respectively, It was concluded that the tested procedure obtained the desired immobilization with no detrimental side-effects.

bears; Ursidae; chemical immobilization; alpha-chloralose

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